Dolichos sericeus E. Mey.
subsp. sericeus

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Entrance to Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Kaperekeza road, Nyika National Park

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Synonyms:	Dolichos formosus sensu Robyns non A. Rich. sensu stricto. Dolichos shuterioides Baker Rhynchosia sphaerocephala Baker
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Climbing or prostrate herb, with annual stems 0.6–2.1 m long, more or less densely greyish hairy, growing from a perennial tuberous rootstock. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate to slightly rhombic, 0.9–7.2 × 0.5–4.6 cm, sparsely to densely hairy on both surfaces, 3-veined from the base; petiole 1.5–5.8 cm long; petiolules 1–2 mm long; stipules ovate, 4–6 mm long; stipels lanceolate, 3–5 mm long. Inflorescences in axillary clusters or a short racemes on peduncles up to 9.8 cm long; pedicels 3–11 mm long; bracts 1–2 mm long; bracteoles 2–7 mm long. Calyx hairy; tube 3–4 mm long; lobes triangular, 1–6 mm long, upper pair fused along most or all of their length. Standard oblate, pink or magenta fading to bluish-purple, 10–18 mm long; wings purple; keel paler to white. Pods 4.2–7.8 cm long, almost hairless when mature, sometimes persistently velvety, 5–12-seeded.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	sericeus: with silky appressed hairs, sericeous
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in the highlands of tropical Africa from Cameroon to southern Ethiopia and south to KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 157. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 22. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 220. Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 93 - 95. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 48. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 60. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 98.

Other sources of information about Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus:

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Flora of the DRC: Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus
Flora of Malawi: Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus
Flora of Mozambique: Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus
Flora of Rwanda: Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus
Flora of Zambia: Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dolichos sericeus subsp. sericeus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Dolichos sericeus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Dolichos sericeus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Dolichos sericeus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Dolichos sericeus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Dolichos sericeus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Dolichos sericeus
JSTOR Plant Science: Dolichos sericeus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Dolichos sericeus
Plants of the World Online: Dolichos sericeus
Tropicos: Dolichos sericeus
Wikipedia: Dolichos sericeus